290 ON WOOD-EATING COLEOPTERA. 



Power found it in Warwickshire and investigated its habits, 

 publishing an account in the ' Entomologist.' From his 

 observations he ascertained that this species feeds on the 

 larvae of Hylesinus vittatus, carrying its galleries across so 

 as to intercept and devour them. Having myself once 

 found the Hylesinus in some old railings at Beeston, near 

 Nottingham, when I was at the British Association Meeting 

 in August I again visited the place, and after carefal search 

 found some specimens of the rare Nemosoma in its mines 

 across the tracks of Hylesinus. The portion of bark ex- 

 hibited will show the mines, and the carded specimens will 

 show the two species. 



Stevens mentions Colwich near Nottingham, on the 

 authority of Dr. Howitt, as a locality for Nemosoma ; so 

 no doubt by careful search it may be found in many other 

 places around Nottingham. I also exhibit some bits of 

 oak branches from Dunham mined by Scolytus intricatus, 

 and a few other species of wood-boring Coleoptera found 

 in this neighbourhood, with portions of wood attacked by 

 them. 



Scolytus destructor, the species which has been so de- 

 structive to elm trees near London and Paris, is not com- 

 mon here, probably in some measure because Ulmus cam- 

 pestris is not one of our common trees. 



To the entomologist the investigation of the specific dif- 

 ferences, the habits and instincts, and the peculiar con- 

 formation of these creatures to adapt them to their mode 

 of life are sources of great pleasure ; but he is at the same 

 time more impressed with the enormous amount of damage 

 they inflict than an ordinary observer, and also with the 

 want of knowledge of those who are interested in the pre- 

 servation of our woods and forests. It may happen that 

 the removal of a tree, or even a branch, when attacked by 

 a particular species, may save a forest; but it must be done 

 at the proper time, so as to destroy the insects with it 



